Search Lewes Delaware Genealogy Records
Lewes is one of the oldest settlements in Delaware, and its genealogy records reflect that deep history. Researchers searching for family history connected to Lewes will find strong resources at the Lewes Historical Society, the Sussex County Genealogical Society, the Delaware Public Archives, and through digitized church registers that go back to the early 1700s. This page covers where to look, what to expect, and how to get the most out of each source.
Lewes Overview
Lewes Historical Society Genealogy Archives
The Lewes Historical Society is the primary genealogy resource for anyone searching family history in Lewes. The society is at 110 Shipcarpenter Street, Lewes, DE 19958. You can call (302) 645-7670 or email info@historiclewes.org. The archives hold books, photographs, decorative art, tools, paintings, and a broad range of historical and genealogical records tied to Lewes and the surrounding region.
The library and archives holds close to 4,000 volumes, plus papers and records covering Lewes history and Delaware state history more broadly. If your family lived in this part of Sussex County, this collection is where to begin. The depth of material here is substantial, and it covers records that you will not find duplicated anywhere else in the state.
The photograph collection is one of the largest of its kind in the region. It holds 60,000 historic photographs, including aerial images from the mid-20th century showing Lewes and the surrounding area. These can be useful for placing a family property, identifying a neighborhood, or confirming that a relative lived in a specific part of town during a certain period.
To use the archives, contact Archivist Denise Clemons at (302) 645-7670 x104 or through the website. Hours are Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, though hours are subject to change and appointments are suggested. All researchers must present a driver's license or other valid photo ID when they arrive. Photocopies are available for a fee, though requests may be denied for items that are too fragile to reproduce safely.
Delaware Newspaper Project at Lewes Historical Society
The Lewes Historical Society holds one of four complete copies of the Delaware Newspaper Project. This collection was transferred from Delaware Technical Community College and is a major resource for genealogy researchers looking for obituaries, legal notices, marriage announcements, and other family history details in old newspaper issues.
The project is a cooperative newspaper preservation effort. It catalogs Delaware newspapers on microfilm going back to the late 1700s. A microfilm reader is available for in-house printing. There is no fee to use the microfilm reader or to print copies, though the society welcomes donations. The collection also includes The Breakwater Light and the Delaware Pilot, two former Lewes newspapers with runs going back to the 1870s. For anyone searching Lewes genealogy from that era forward, these papers are a strong secondary source.
The Cape Gazette published a detailed article about this collection. You can read more about what the society holds through that piece.
The newspaper collection is one of the most useful tools for Lewes genealogy research, especially for tracking family events between formal record-keeping cycles.
Lewes Genealogy Church Records
Church records are among the most valuable sources for Lewes genealogy, especially for events that predate Delaware's civil registration system. Many of these records are held at the FamilySearch Library and can be accessed through a local FamilySearch Center or online through FamilySearch.org. The Lewes LDS genealogy page lists the full range of available records.
Available church records for Lewes include the Presbyterian Church at Coolspring from 1789 to 1867, the Lewes and Cool Spring Presbyterian Church record book from 1768 to 1845, and the minutes of St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal Church from 1708 to 1797. The records of St. Peter's Church parish run from 1728 to 1925, making them one of the longest continuous church record sets in the state.
Other records include the Proceedings of the trustees of Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church from 1846 to 1901, and the Register of Bethel M.E. Church from 1860 to 1933. Death, marriage, and baptism records for the Lewes Presbyterian Church run from 1737 to 1856. The session minutes of the Lewes, Coolspring, and Indian River Presbyterian congregations cover 1756 to 1848. These records together provide substantial coverage of family events in Lewes over nearly two centuries.
The LDS genealogy page for Lewes lists these records with access details and library locations.
Records of the United Presbyterian Churches of Lewes, Indian River, and Cool Spring run from 1756 to 1855. The Register of Groome Memorial Methodist Protestant Church covers 1908 to 1940. Extracts from the journal of St. Peter's Church go from 1797 to 1845.
Lewes Genealogy Maps and Death Records
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps are a useful tool for placing a family address or tracking property at a specific point in time. Lewes has several Sanborn maps at the Library of Congress: July 1897, June 1891, October 1904, July 1910, and October 1922. These are available to view for free on the Library of Congress website. If you know a family member lived on a certain street, these maps can help you identify the property and confirm the neighborhood layout at the time.
For death records, several sources cover Lewes. Delaware Death Records from 1861 to 1933 are available through Ancestry. The Delaware Public Archives holds Delaware Death Records from 1913 to 1980. Records from 1974 to the present are maintained by the Delaware Office of Vital Statistics. The Delaware vital records guide on the state website explains how to request certified copies of death and other vital records.
The Office of Vital Statistics for Sussex County is at 546 S. Bedford St., Georgetown, DE 19947, phone (302) 515-3190. The Sussex County Register of Wills, which holds probate records, is at P.O. Box 743, Georgetown, DE 19947, phone (302) 856-5601. The Sussex County Recorder of Deeds, which holds land records going back to 1693, is at the Court House in Georgetown, DE 19947.
Delaware vital records law is outlined in Delaware Code Title 16, Chapter 31, Subchapter I and Subchapter II. These statutes cover registration requirements, access rules, and who can request copies of vital records.
Sussex County Genealogical Society and Lewes Public Library
The Sussex County Genealogical Society serves Lewes and the broader Sussex County area. The society holds regular meetings at the Lewes Public Library and via Zoom. Members share research tips, help each other solve difficult problems, and maintain resources for local genealogy work. If you are searching for a Sussex County family, this group can be a useful network to tap into.
The Lewes Public Library is at 111 Adams Avenue, Lewes, DE 19958. Library cardholders can access genealogy services, historical newspapers, and Delaware government records through the library's online platforms. The library also provides in-person access to local history materials. The Sussex County Genealogical Society uses this location for its meetings, so if you want to connect with other Lewes-area researchers, the library is a good place to start.
The Delaware Public Archives is the main state repository for government records. It is at 121 Duke of York St, Dover, DE 19901, phone (302) 744-5000. The Archives runs a free digital ancestry database at archives.delaware.gov/digital-ancestry that is open to anyone. This is a good first stop before making any trips to physical repositories.
Sussex County Genealogy Records
Lewes is in Sussex County, and county-level records including land deeds going back to 1693, probate files, and court records are all maintained at the county level. For a full picture of Sussex County genealogy resources and where records are held, visit the county records page.
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